Max Verstappen drove a beautiful race to win the Malaysian Grand Prix last Sunday, taking the lead soon after the start and holding it all the way to the chequered flag.
It was a great race at a great track and it is very sad to see that the Malaysian government, which normally sponsors the race, is withdrawing in the future.
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Lewis Hamilton could do nothing about the Flying Dutchman and had to be content with his second spot while the other Red Bull being driven by Daniel Ricciardo came home third onto the podium.
Hamilton has, however, increased his lead in the championship over Sebastian Vettel to 34 points with five races to go.
Vettel, meanwhile, is only 25 points ahead of Valtteri Bottas
This resurgence by Red Bull and Renault is really good news and augurs well for an exciting last quarter to the season.
I really do expect Red Bull and Ferrari to keep the pressure on Mercedes for the rest of the season.
Ferrari’s luck was not all good at Sepang as Sebastian Vettel’s disappointment in practice when he had engine trouble was copied by teammate Kimi Raikkonen in the race when his engine would not perform properly at the start, putting paid to his chances.
Vettel gave us a demonstration of gritty driving from the back of the grid to fourth position at the finish.
Then, on the slowing down lap, he had a big coming together with Lance Stroll’s Williams which took off his back wheel and damaged his gearbox, meaning more deductions for a new gearbox at the next race.
The second Mercedes, driven by Valtteri Bottas was fifth with Sergio Perez sixth in his Force India and Stoffel Vandoorne seventh in the first McLaren home.
Alonso only made 11th in the sister car.
The good news for McLaren, however is that they have signed up with Renault and might even have French power before the season finishes.
Lance Stroll and Felipe Massa in the two Williams Mercs, finished line astern in eighth and ninth, and Esterban Ocon was in the final points position 10th in the other Force India.
It was a very good race weekend with a lot of action and some changes in fortunes.
We now move off straight to Japan’s Suzuka circuit for this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.
It is another morning affair with qualifying at 8am this Saturday and the race at 7am this Sunday.
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